Jacob

Reema pulled down the hood of her cloak.

“Oh my, Harken. You looked ugly. The woods have not been kind to you these past few months,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

It revealed a hide of scales of fiery crimson and wine. Two svelte horns protruded out of its upper shoulders an inch wide and an inch tall, and its pair of eyes small and wide with pupils slit-shaped like that of a cat or a snake in piercing purple. Its face was slender and gaunt, which matched its physique: thinner legs, leaner torso, and four upper limbs that ended with claw-like hands, humanoid but far from human. Where a human's hair was supposed to be was replaced by a dozen pair of proboscis-like trunks, similar to that of an elephant, leathery and ruggedly muscled in texture, albeit much skinnier as it dangled from its head, covered in a lighter shade of red than the rest of its body.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere else?" Harken asked her again, ignoring her question. "A job to do? A job we've been on for months now? Or did you screw up again?"

Reema snorted. "What makes you think that?"

"Because it's you."

Reema made a huff. "Okay. Fine. You got me, you old beast. My humans died! There! I said it! I failed! Boy, it feels so good to admit that out loud. Here I was, spending my time in the woods, alone, wallowing over and over—crying mostly—but you know, fucking feelings," Reema said.

Harken almost looked like he was about to burst. "What. In. The. Gods. Name. Happened?"

Reema bit her slender lips, unsure. "Okay. It is a bit of a long story…"

"Then make it short. It's not that hard for a Ruvari to do, always boasting about your brains at every opportune."

"Well, well, Harken. With words like that…Okay. Fine. They were stupid enough to wade through a bog, and they got eaten when they couldn't get out. I tried to help, but marsh-wytches are not that easy to kill alone."

"You can start to douse them with fire for once."

"And kill the humans, too? It's hard to aim when there's a bunch of goons running around in the line of fire, and are dumb enough not to understand to fucking move aside. So, I ended up saving one."

"And you left him alone?"

"Not exactly. He ran away moments later, thinking I was going to eat him, and I was going to tell him that the Ruvari doesn't eat meat, but he already ran away!"

"And?"

"Well, he died of fucking hypothermia. I can't run through the woods, Harken. I was built for a city, not the fucking wild like a barbarian."

The Polar Bear—Harken—growled lowly. "We are not to interfere. That is the order."

"Well, I can't just stand by while those idiots helplessly lead themselves into danger and then get themselves killed! If the humans all die, then what's the point hauling ourselves here in the middle of fucking nowhere? How about you, Harken? How did your humans fare? Hopefully better than mine did."

"They made camp not too far from here," Harken said, "and they would soon leave later as they have done before, heading southeast again. One of them at least has some good sense on his shoulders."

"Ha! At least yours are smart enough to avoid the Coltax," Reema said, "I was afraid they would keep going, and then we'll have another group slaughtered by these ghastly woods. Oh, gods! Why they chose to emerge so far from civilization is a fucking mystery. Bah! I hate the snow. I hate the North. I hate those fucking White Tower misers for sending us here. And I hate fucking everything about this!" Reema let out an exasperated sigh.

"Will you get a grip? They'll hear you!" Harken hissed.

"Oh, hush. Will you relax? I've been wandering through the woods looking for you because you won't answer your orb. How am I to announce myself that I need some needed shelter?"

"I was observing them."

"Ah. I see. To busy for good old me?"

"I was thinking more of the mission," Harken growled. "It must be prudent that we lead them south. They are too far north for us to do anything! Remember, these are going to be their lands now, their domain. But they have to claim it first before they do. Follow the plan."

"Well, they are getting too close to the mountains. These are the queen's domain, mind you. How are you going to steer them away? Goblins are not that hospitable, especially the northern ones."

Jacob almost let out a gasp, holding the breath inside his mouth. Goblins? Jacob wondered. Mountain Goblins?

"I've already thought that through."

Reema shook her head. "You know, I could be drinking sweet Alcaran wine by now, bathe under the sun by the solarium, not under this wretched northern sun—"

"It will only be a few weeks. We will go home soon."

"Not soon enough, I'm afraid."

Harken sighed, taking a seat on the same root Jacob was. "Are the Coltax on their way?"

"Yes, unfortunately."

"Then the city was lost. Faustus and the others were too late."

"Ashes now, it seems. The orb tells me it was a huge bloody battle. Too bad, we missed all the fighting."

"Not a funny joke, Reema. Many people died."

"Ah, yes. I didn't know humans are so squishy."

"Fortunately, many of them managed to escape before the dragon destroyed it all."

Reema nodded. "Faustus extended the order to keep an eye on them. Now that my humans are dead…"

Harken began fervently shaking his head. "No, Reema. My answer is no. No for the thousandth time."

"Oh, come on, Harken. We've worked splendidly before! Surely I can come along with you? I've saved you many times from near death!"

"Two makes more noise than one. Besides, this isn't like Falkarth, and last time I remember, your hubris put me closer to meeting my maker!"

"Ah, shush. All semantics, such a little downer, you. Don't you want a little company? I hear it gets lonely in these thick of the woods. With my talents and your swords, we cover each other's blind spots."

"We have to be serious here, Reema. This is very dangerous. If The Circle finds them—"

"Hush! Don't ever say their name! Not even in these woods."

Harken let out a huff. "Still. If they get to the humans first, we are doomed."

"Then, let us pray, brother, that we steer them on a clearer path first than they do. And besides, two people can get things done much faster than one."

Harken sighed, scratching the back of his neck, slumped his broad shoulders, and got up. "Thalamar, guide me," Harken muttered, looking up the sky. "Fine. You can come along. It doesn't seem like I have any choice."

Reema chuckled softly. "No. You don't, you old beast. Now, which way to your camp—"

Harken suddenly drew in a hard breath, held them there in his lungs. His expression folded down to a stern gaze, eyes darting everywhere, holding a claw up for Reema to stop. "Wait. Something is not right."

"Yeah," Reema said, rolling her eyes. "Everything in this woods is wrong, dearie."

"No. Not that—" Harken brought his eyes upward.

Jacob followed his gaze, ending up on Max, frozen halfway down the trunk as he stared uncomfortably at the two strangers on the ground.

Reema gasped. "Is that—Oh my, it's a—!"

Reema didn't get to finish what she was saying as a shockwave suddenly propelled her and Harken to the side. Harken slammed onto the pine tree six feet away behind him, breaking the twigs and branches, and sent a waft of leaves and pine cones falling down on top of him. A bed of snow managed to lessen his fall. Reema, blown backward, managed to reach out and grabbed hold of a large branch, twirling her slender body back toward it, and landed on top.

"What is a fucking Adherer doing here?!" Reema exclaimed

"That's it!" Harken bellowed. "I don't care whose it is. I am going to kill it!" Harken pulled out his sword, a blade almost twice as long as his rippling boulder-like arms and glinted under the morning light, made a start toward Max.

Max's big eyes drew over, turning white. Another shockwave sent Harken flying back to another tree standing up on a sloped hill—where Jacob hid underneath its alcove. Harken's impact on the tree spit Jacob out of his hiding spot, scrambling away as the hulking giant slumped on top of him. Jacob managed to grab his bag before it got squashed under the bear's weight.

Their eyes met, and the polar bear recognized him.

"Reema! There' a little human—!"

Max lifted Harken off the ground with his mind, and slammed him back down, hitting his head on the roots protruding out of the dirt. Jacob felt a searing heat at his back, whirling around in a wild panic, and saw a fireball hurtling his way, coming from the tree where Reema stood.

Max dropped down onto the ground, made a little shriek, and the fireball swerved to the side, flying away from Jacob, and engulfed a nearby tree. Max sent another shockwave, and this time, he threw Reema out into the foliage with a shrilling screech.

Through all of that, they were still alive.

"Come on! Let's go!" Jacob screamed, turned, and ran away from the two strangers.

Jacob's heart was beating at a maddening speed, hurtling through foliage and underbrush, through trees in a dash to save his own life. He could feel Max had crawled up to his shoulders, hanging for dear life. Unable to fly, it had latch itself on him as they escaped. He was afraid to look behind his shoulders, didn't want to see those people coming after his blood.

Jacob pushed himself harder than ever before. There were times that he had to slow his pace down, inhaling deeper, faster, with the cold evening air shocking his throat. His lungs were unable to take up much breath as it expanded against his ribcage.

It was then he realized he was going the wrong way.

Jacob stopped in his tracks and swiftly looked around. "Shit. I don't recognize these trees!" He said in a fit of panic. "Oh, crap. What now?"

Max shook behind his back, pointed his tiny fingers to the path he had run from.

Jacob shook his head. "No. That's where they are!"

Hearing their voices drawing closer, Jacob had to make a tough choice. "Oh, you got to be kidding me."

Pushing with all his might to bring some courage into his bones, he ran to the left.

He ran through more branches and foliage; hurdling through fallen trees and boulders, and bleeding from lashes against sharp branches across his legs and face.

They broke through a clearing behind another thicket, finding himself on the bank of a narrow river, the water had frozen in a thick layer of ice.

Left, right, or forward? Jacob thought, scanning each path. He saw Max pointing forward.

"Thanks!" Jacob said.

Jacob narrowed the fork on the narrow stream, which looked like it was at least forty feet wide. Jacob picked up a small rock at the bank and threw it on top of the ice to test it.

It didn't break.

Jacob couldn't determine how deep the stream if he fell. Running out of time, he took the chance and started running across the river, trying not to think about falling into the icy waters waiting underneath, and then freezing to death without Connor, Eli, and his father knowing where he had been and where he died. He pushed the thoughts away, trying to think positive. The voices behind him kept getting closer, Harken most of all, his roar louder than Jacob's heavy panting, and louder than the cracks the ice made with his every step.

Please don't break! Please don't break! Jacob muttered like a mantra.

Then, he felt the dirt again under his shoes, and Jacob made a little whoop as he continued running forward.

"See, Max! That wasn't bad—"

A glowing green rift suddenly appeared above him, instantly recognizing the form right above the city of San Francisco when the hurricane lashed through. Harken shot out of the gap, crashing right in front of him, his sword raised at the ready, a glowering smile sneaking upon his lips.

Max jumped off from his shoulders between him and the giant bear, but a sudden translucent sphere appeared around him, and Max floated into the air, unable to move, a faint little whine echoed through the woods.

"Max! No!" Jacob cried out.

Reema fell down from the rift. With a wave of her hand, the breach quickly snapped shut, and she sucked in a heavy breath, cackling.

Jacob, realizing the dagger that his grandfather had given him, pulled it out of his sheath, held it up to his attackers.

"Stay back!" Jacob bellowed.

"Oh, my, little human," Harken growled deeply, "you shouldn't have run."

"I said, stay back!" Jacob bellowed again, but he didn't intend for it to sound weak, almost caught in his throat, letting out a little squeak instead.

"Oh! Harken, look! It's only a little pup!" Reema exclaimed, her eyes softening as she gazed down on him. "Just a poor little pup. You shouldn't scare it away with your mean face."

"A little pup, huh?" Harken's arms strained, and Jacob could hear his muscles contracting, his paws tightened around his sword. "Then why does this little pup have an Adherer on his tail?"

Reema peeled her gaze away from Jacob monetarily and studied Max hovering up in the air like some creature riped for an experiment.

"I'll tell you why," Harken said, looming closer, "we have a bloody warlock in our midst."